Winter Haven, FL (NSUWolves.com) – The Northern State University softball team notched their first sunshine sweep against Caldwell and University of Pittsburg, Johnstown on Thursday. Northern notched 17 runs on 27 hits in the two wins and saw a pair of strong pitching performances.

THE QUICK DETAILS

Final Score Game 1: NSU 11, CU 8

Final Score Game 2: NSU 6, UJP 2

Records: NSU 12-4, CU 4-5, UPJ 3-7

HOW IT HAPPENED vs. CALDWELL

• It was a high scoring affair in game one with the Wolves recording 11 runs on 16 hits with three errors
• Northern scored on in the second for the first run of the game; an infield single by Kyra Knudtson scoring Liv Richardson
• They tacked on two runs in the third, three in the fourth, four in the fifth, and one in the sixth; never giving up the lead
• Caldwell fought back with a pair of runs in the third and fourth and three runs apiece in the fifth and seventh, however it was not enough to overcome the Wolves offensive successes
• Ashley Fauske and Claire Zbylut scored on an Elly Smith double to left center in the third, while Fauske and Lexi Chase scored on a Zbylut single in the fourth
• Zbylut also tallied a run in the fourth on a single to center by Knudtson
• The Wolves held an 6-2 lead heading into the fifth and the flood gates opened from there
• Scoring for NSU in the fifth inning were Chase and Fauske on a single to left by Zbylut, Taylor Coleman on a double to left center by Richardson, and Zbylut on a groundout by Smith
• Alysa Lowe tallied the Wolves 11^th and final run in the top of the sixth on a wild pitch
• Richardson, Knudtson, and Chase led the offense with three hits apiece, while Fauske, Zbylut, and Smith each notched two
• Lexi Chase threw her second win of the season, going five complete with five runs (four earned), nine hits, and six strikeouts

NORTHERN STATE STATISTICAL STANDOUTS

• Liv Richardson: 3-for-5, 1 run, 1 RBI, double
• Kyra Knudtson: 3-for-4, 2 RBI
• Lexi Chase: 3-for-4, 2 runs, 5.0 innings pitched, 6 strikeouts, win
• Ashley Fauske: 2-for-3, 3 runs
• Claire Zbylut: 2-for-4, 3 runs, 4 BRI
• Elly Smith: 2-for-5, 3 RBI, double

HOW IT HAPPENED vs. PITT-JOHNSTOWN

• Northern played solid defense in game two, giving up just two runs on three hits
• The Wolves held Pitt-Johnstown scoreless through five complete, as UJP scored just two runs in the sixth
• NSU tallied two runs in the third, one in the fifth, and three in the sixth; notching their six runs on 11 hits in the win
• Liv Richardson kicked off the scoring in the third with a triple to left center, scoring Claire Zbylut
• Richardson then came around to score on a sacrifice squeeze by Elly Smith
• Kyra Knudtson added the Wolves run in the fifth on a single to left by Avarie Eagle
• Pitt-Johnstown tallied two runs in the sixth, however Northern was not finished, added three more in the bottom of the frame
• Ashley Fauske scored on a double to right by Richardson and Zbylut and Richardson scored on a single to left by Smith
• Taylor Coleman struck out 11 in her fourth win of the season, giving up just two earned runs on three hits

NORTHERN STATE STATISTICAL STANDOUTS

• Liv Richardson: 3-for-4, 2 runs, 2 RBI, double, triple
• Ashley Fauske: 2-for-4, 1 run
• Emma Owens: 2-for-3, double
• Taylor Coleman: 6.0 innings pitched, 3 hits, 2 earned runs, 11 strikeouts

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